The present invention relates to a shock absorber device for sliding doors of articles of furniture, in particular for sliding doors of wardrobes and the like. The invention is particularly applicable as an accessory located internally of wardrobes having sliding doors or any other article of furniture equipped with sliding doors.

As is known, there are wardrobes and other articles of furniture provided with sliding doors which can translate horizontally or vertically on a respective closing plane.

With the aim of preventing sharp or violent impacts between the sliding doors and the structure or frame of the wardrobe or other article, today it is common to apply on the wardrobes or other furniture a series of shock absorbers which slow the doors' run down before they finally close. In this way the final stage of closing can be achieved more softy and controlledly.

Generally these shock absorber devices comprise a hollow cylindrical structure internally of which a housing chamber is defined that is open at a side thereof in order to receive and accommodate a respective shock absorber. The hollow cylindrical structure is externally provided with organs or engaging elements for fixing the device to the structure or frame of the respective wardrobe or article of furniture.

The shock absorber comprises a cylinder internally of which a piston is operatively arranged, which piston acts on a shock-absorbing fluid present internally of the cylinder (for example oil). The piston is provided with a stem which extends through the cylinder and projects from the open part of the hollow cylindrical structure.

The shock-absorber device is further provided with a hollow cylindrical cursor, slidably mobile on the cylindrical structure between a first position, in which it is distanced from the cylinder of the shock-absorber and the stem of the shock- absorber is prevalently arranged externally of the cylinder, and a second position, in which the hollow cylindrical cursor is arranged in proximity of the cylinder of the shock-absorber, the stem of which is prevalently arranged internally of the cylinder.

The hollow cylindrical cursor exhibits one or more guide appendages predisposed to cooperate with respective intercept and guide means of the door in order to translate from the first to the second position.

In more detail, via the interaction of the guide appendages of the hollow cylindrical cursor and the intercept and guide means of the respective door, the door engages and draws the hollow cylindrical cursor in translation towards the second position during the closing run. The displacement of the hollow cylindrical cursor from the first to the second position determines the movement of the piston stem of the shock-absorber inwardly of the respective cylinder. The shock-absorbing fluid constitutes a resistance to the advancing of the piston, slowing the run of the hollow cylindrical cursor, and, consequently, the run of the door which therefore closes more softly.

The shock-absorber device is further provided with a reset spring operatively located internally of the hollow cylindrical cursor. The reset spring is compressed and thus reloads when the hollow cylindrical cursor is in the second position. When the respective door is opened, the reset spring pushes the hollow cylindrical surface towards the first position in order to prepare the shock- absorber device for a next closing of the door.

For example EP 1700985 describes, in figures 17 to 20, a shock-absorber device in which a piston inserted in a jacket exhibits a respective stem coupled to a cursor destined to slide above the jacket.

The jacket is externally provided with a T-shaped tab destined to enable fixture of the shock-absorber to a member mounted on the article of furniture.

The tab exhibits a central core which projects such as to enable sliding of the cursor on the jacket; the jacket is provided with a longitudinal undercut open at an entry side up to in proximity of a further coupling guide to the member of an article of furniture. It is clear that the longitudinal undercut open at the entry end weakens the structural continuity of the jacket and does not enable the core of the tab to provide a precise guide.

US 2004/0205935 discloses a shock-absorber device in which an end of the shock-absorbing piston is guided in a terminal end of the device for absorbing the initial closing shock of the door.

Although the known shock-absorber devices are able to slow the run of the door to which they are associated, the applicant has found that they are however not without drawbacks and are liable to improvement in certain aspects thereof, mainly in relation to the structural integrity thereof and of the doors, as well as correct functioning thereof.

In particular, an imperfect interaction has been found between the intercept and guide means of the doors and the guide appendages of the respective shock- absorbing devices. This erroneous interaction can lead to: in some cases, breakage of the guide appendages; in other cases the breakage of the shock- absorber device itself; and in some situations even the breakage of both. In the first case, the connection between the shock-absorber device and the respective doors is lost, with the door no longer being slowed down during the terminal stage of the run thereof, and with an ensuing violent impact against the structure or the frame of the wardrobe or article of furniture. In the second and third cases, if the intercepting of the guide appendages by the respective door is particularly violent, the impact of the intercept and guide means against the guide appendages determines a snagging of the components of the shock- absorber device which irredeemably breaks, also taking on a wrong position which can damage the respective door.

The aim of the present invention is to obviate the drawbacks encountered in the prior art.

An aim of the present invention is to strengthen the shock-absorber device in order to prevent the intercepting of the guide appendages by the intercept and guide means of the respective door from damaging the guide appendages or the device itself. A further aim of the present invention is to guarantee linear sliding of the hollow cylindrical cursor with respect to the hollow cylindrical structure, preventing any snagging of a component of the shock-absorber device with respect to the others.

An objective of the invention is to precisely guide the components of the device while avoiding misalignments or snagging of the parts, without however increasing the structural complexity of the invention.

This aim and others besides are substantially attained by a shock-absorber device for sliding doors of articles of furniture, in particular for slidable doors of wardrobes, according to what is set out in the accompanying claims.

There now follows, by way of example, a description of a shock-absorber device for sliding doors of articles of furniture, in particular for sliding doors of wardrobes, which is provided in a preferred but not exclusive embodiment illustrated in the figures of the drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a perspective exploded view of a shock-absorber device of the present invention;

figure 2 is a perspective illustration of the device of the preceding figure, illustrated in a significant position;

figure 3 is a longitudinal section of the device of the preceding figures;

figure 4 is a perspective illustration of the device of the preceding figures, illustrated in a further significant position;

figure 5 is a longitudinal section of the device of the preceding figure.

With reference to the accompanying figures, 1 denotes in its entirety a shock- absorber device for sliding doors of articles of furniture, in particular for sliding doors of wardrobes, according to the present invention.

As can be seen in the appended figures, the device 1 comprises a hollow cylindrical structure 2 exhibiting at least a bottom wall 2a (figures 3 and 5), substantially circular, from which at least a substantially cylindrical lateral wall 2b substantially perpendicularly extends. Note that although the present description will make reference to cylindrical structures, this characteristic is not essential as other shapes of the hollow structure might equally be used with an identical functioning of the device. The bottom wall 2a and lateral wall 2b delimit at least a housing chamber 2c (figures 3 and 4) open on an opposite side of the bottom wall 2a.

As illustrated in the accompanying figures of the drawings, the hollow cylindrical structure 2 is externally provided with at least an engaging organ 3 for fastening the device 1 to at least a frame (not illustrated in the figures) of an article of furniture or a wardrobe (also not illustrated).

In particular, the engaging organ 3 comprises a support portion 3a solidly joined to the bottom wall 2a of the hollow cylindrical structure 2. The support portion

3 a exhibits a substantially cylindrical conformation, which develops substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal development of the hollow cylindrical structure 2. The support portion 3 a exhibits an axial through-opening 3b, engageable on one side by a threaded connecting element 3 a, preferably a screw, and on the other side by a gripping cylinder 3d. The gripping cylinder 3d terminates, on an opposite side with respect to the support portion 3 a, with a small plate 3e that is substantially flattened.

A through-opening 3f crosses the cylinder 3d and the plate 3e and enables engagement of the threaded connection element 3 c.

The plate 3e exhibits, at the through-opening 3f, a conical coupling countersink 3g for engaging a conical projection 3h of a counter-plate 3i also provided with a respective through-opening 31.

The components 3a, 3c, 3d, 3e and 3i cooperate in a known way such as to maintain the hollow cylindrical structure 2 fixed on the structure or the frame of an article of furniture or a wardrobe.

Still with reference to the accompanying figures, the hollow cylindrical structure 2 further comprises a tab 4 destined during the closing stage of the door to striking receive a terminal portion thereof, guaranteeing damped and softer engagement (with elasticity given by the inclined geometry of the tab). The tab

4 exhibits a connecting portion 4a (figures 1, 3 and 5), which extends substantially perpendicularly to the lateral wall 2b in a lie plane coinciding with a diametric lie plane of the cylindrical structure. On the opposite side to the lateral wall 2b the connecting portion 4a is joined in a single piece to a substantially plate-shaped intermediate portion 4b (figures 1 , 2 and 4) which lies on a substantially perpendicular plane to the lie plane of the connecting portion 4a.

As can be seen in figures 1, 2 and 4, the intermediate portion 4b develops in its lie plane prevalently substantially perpendicular to the development plane of the hollow cylindrical structure 2 and in a substantially rectangular shape.

Still with reference to the figures, a substantially plate-shaped terminal portion 4c, develops from the intermediate portion 4b distancingly from the bottom wall 2a of the hollow cylindrical structure 2. In detail, the terminal portion 4c lies on an inclined lie plane with respect to the lie plane of the intermediate portion 4b such as to distance from the hollow cylindrical structure 2 as it distances from the intermediate portion 4b. Like the intermediate portion 4b, the terminal portion 4c too exhibits a substantially rectangular shape which develops prevalently substantially parallel to the longitudinal development of the hollow cylindrical structure 2.

Once more with reference to the accompanying figures of the drawings, the terminal portion 4c exhibits a free end provided with a rounded relief 4d, for receiving the door as it closes, and absorbing the impact by means of elasticity. Note that the tab 4 can alternatively or in combination be provided on the opposite side of the structure with respect to what is illustrated in the drawings. As can be seen in figures 1, 3 and 5, the device further comprises at least a shock-absorber 5, operatively arranged internally of the housing chamber 2c of the hollow cylindrical structure 2. The shock-absorber 5 comprises at least a cylinder 5a containing a shock-absorbing fluid (for example, though not limitingly, oil - not visible in the accompanying figures) and at least a piston (not illustrated in the accompanying figures) operatively arranged internally of the cylinder 5a and acting on the shock-absorbing fluid when it is activated during the closure of the respective door. Still with reference to figures 1, 3 and 5, the piston is provided with a stem 5b which projects longitudinally from the cylinder 5, on an opposite side to the , bottom wall 2a of the hollow structure 2 and terminates with a smaller-section end 5c.

As can be seen in the accompanying figures, the device 1 comprises at least a hollow cylindrical cursor 6 provided with a substantially-circular bottom wall 6a, from which at least a substantially cylindrical lateral wall 6b substantially perpendicularly extends. The bottom wall 6a and lateral wall 6b delimit a respective housing chamber 6c (figures 3 and 5) which is open on the opposite side to the bottom wall 6a.

Note that although the present description will make reference to cylindrical structures, this characteristic is not essential as other shapes of the hollow cursor can equally be provided, enabling an equal functioning of the device.

With reference to the accompanying figures, the hollow cylindrical cursor 6 is slidably engaged on the hollow cylindrical structure 2 and is mobile along the structure 2 between a first position (figures 4 and 5) in which the bottom wall 6a of the hollow cylindrical cursor 6 is distanced from the cylinder 5 a of the shock- absorber 5, and a second position (figures 2 and 3) in which the bottom wall 6a of the hollow cylindrical cursor 6 is arranged in proximity of the cylinder 5 a of the shock absorber 5. In more detail, when the hollow cylindrical cursor 6 is in the first position (figures 4 and 5), the stem 5b of the piston 5 is prevalently arranged externally of the cylinder 5 with the free end 5c thereof engaged in a respective engaging seating 6c (figures 1, 3 and 5) afforded internally on the bottom wall 6a of the hollow cylindrical cursor 6. Contrarily, when the hollow cylindrical cursor 6 is in the second position (figures 2, 3) the stem 5b is prevalently arranged internally of the cylinder 5 by effect of the push the hollow cylindrical cursor 6 has exerted thereon.

With the aim of enabling movement of the hollow cylindrical cursor 6 on the hollow cylindrical structure 2, the lateral wall 6b of the hollow cylindrical cursor 6 exhibits a longitudinal undercut 6d (figures from 2 to 5) predisposed to receive the connecting portion 4a of the tab 4 of the hollow cylindrical structure 2. As illustrated in the accompanying figures, the hollow cylindrical cursor 2 is externally provided with at least a guide appendage 6e, cooperating with a respective intercept and guide organ (not represented) of the respective door of the article of furniture or wardrobe on which the device 1 is mounted such as to be displaced from the first position to the second position along a substantially parallel direction to a longitudinal axis X of the hollow cylindrical cursor 6 and the hollow cylindrical structure 2 during the closing of the door.

In the illustrated embodiment in figures 1, 2 and 4, the hollow cylindrical cursor 6 comprises two guide appendages 6e, substantially identical and cooperating with one or more intercept and guide means of the respective door of the article of furniture or the wardrobe such as to be displaced from the first to the second position during the closing of the door.

The guide appendages 6e preferably lie substantially on a same transversal plane as the hollow cylindrical cursor 6 and extend substantially parallel to one another.

The device 1 advantageously further comprises auxiliary guide means 7 (figures 1 , 2 and 4) operatively interposed between the hollow cylindrical structure 2 and the hollow cylindrical cursor 6 for guiding the cursor 6 between the first and the second positions along a substantially parallel direction to the longitudinal axis X.

The auxiliary guide means 7 comprise at least a guide projection 8 projecting from the hollow cylindrical structure 2 and at least a guide seating 9 afforded in the hollow cylindrical cursor 6. The guide projection 8 is predisposed to operatively engage the respective guide seating 9 in order to conduct the hollow cylindrical cursor 6 along a substantially parallel direction to the longitudinal axis X thereof and the hollow cylindrical structure 2 between the first and the second position during the closing of the respective door.

It is clear that the guide projection 8 can alternatively be afforded in the hollow cylindrical cursor 6 and be projecting towards the inside of the cavity defined thereby, while the corresponding guide seating 9 can be afforded in the hollow cylindrical structure 2. In other words, the guide seating 9 and the corresponding guide projections 8 in an inverted configuration with respect to the configuration illustrated in the accompanying figures is entirely equivalent.

In general terms the guide projection 8 extends transversally, preferably substantially perpendicularly to the lateral wall 2b of the hollow cylindrical structure 2.

Once more with reference to figures 1,2 and 4, the guide projection 8 exhibits, along a substantially parallel dimension to the longitudinal axis X of the hollow cylindrical structure 2, a substantially elongate shape.

In detail, the guide projection 8 is defined by a surface relief of the hollow cylindrical structure 2 which exhibits oblique opposite ends 8a (figures 1, 2 and 4)·

The guide projection 8 further exhibits two opposite surfaces 14 configured such as to enable longitudinal sliding of the projection in the corresponding guide seating 9.

The two opposite surfaces 14 are in particular defined by respective substantially flat surfaces which exhibit a development dimension which is substantially parallel to the dimension of the longitudinal axis X.

The two surfaces 14 face one another and are substantially in contact with the walls which delimit the guide seating 9 and can slide relatively to the walls. Vice versa, the opposite ends 8a of the guide projection 8 interact with the ends of the guide seating such as to define minimum and maximum extraction positions of the hollow cylindrical structure 2 with respect to the hollow and cylindrical cursor 6.

In other terms, each opposite end 8a is destined to abut against a respective terminal zone 13 of the guide seating 9 such as to prevent any further sliding of the hollow cylindrical structure 2 with respect to the hollow cylindrical cursor 6 following the nearing motion relative thereto.

The specific embodiment (clearly visible in figure 1) illustrates guide projections 8 having a trapezoid longitudinal section and a moderate thickness. The opposite ends 8a with the inclined surfaces serve to enable easier insertion of the guide projection into the corresponding guide seating 9, functioning as an entry portion, but maintaining the ability to block the guide projection 8 in the respective seating 9 in the presence of axial forces which are lower than a certain extraction value.

Still with reference to figures 1, 2 and 4, the guide seating 9 is defined by a through-opening afforded towards the lateral wall 6b of the hollow cylindrical cursor 6. The guide seating 9 develops substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis X of the hollow cylindrical cursor 6, preferably in a measure which is not below two thirds of the longitudinal dimension of the hollow cylindrical cursor 6.

The guide seating 9 is constituted by a through-opening defined by a closed profile which develops substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis X between a first and a second terminal end such as to define, in cooperation with the guide projection 8, positions of minimum and maximum extraction of the hollow cylinder structure 2 with respect to the hollow cylindrical cursor 6.

In particular, the closed profile of the guide seating 9 is constituted by two main longitudinal tracts 12 which are parallel to one another and connected at ends thereof by two transversal tracts 13, for example arched, as shown in the figures. The two opposite surfaces 14 of the guide projection are facing and substantially in contact with the main longitudinal tracts 12 of the closed profile, such as to be guided thereby.

Vice versa, the opposite ends 8a interact with the transversal tracts 13 of the closed profile in the endrun conditions, left and right.

As is clearly visible in figure 1, the closed-profile through-hole of the guide seating 9 develops substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis X and is afforded starting from a predetermined distance 15, not zero, from an entry end 16 of the hollow cylindrical cursor.

In this way the structural continuity and the resistance to torsion forces of the hollow cylindrical cursor 6 are not negatively affected.

It is clear that a complete cut which might reach the entry end 16 considerably reduces the torsional rigidity of the hollow cylindrical cursor 6, limiting especially the guide performance in sliding, which is guaranteed by the coupling between the opposite surfaces 14 of the guide projection and the respective main longitudinal tracts 12 of the guide seating 9.

Looking at figure 2, the body 4 provided with connecting portion 4a can be seen to emerge transversally from the lateral wall 2b of the hollow cylindrical structure and can slide in the open-profile longitudinal undercut 6d from the entry end 16 towards the terminal portion of the cursor 6 itself, such as to crossingly accommodate the connecting portion 4a in the relative motion between the first position and the second position of the hollow cylindrical cursor 6.

In this regard, the longitudinal undercut 6d exhibits a transversal dimension which is greater than the transversal direction of the guide seating 9; further, the longitudinal undercut 6d does not have the main function of longitudinally guiding the two components 2, 6 in the relative motion thereof.

Finally, note that the longitudinal undercut 6d is arranged in a radial plane (passing through the axis X of the device) which is offset by about 90° with respect to the radial plane containing the guide seating 9.

The auxiliary guide means 7 advantageously comprise two preferably-identical guide projections 8, projecting from opposite sides of the hollow cylindrical structure 2 and two guide seatings 9, preferably identical, afforded at opposite sides of the hollow cylindrical cursor 6.

Each guide projection 8 operatively engages a respective guide seating 9 in order to conduct the hollow cylindrical cursor 6 along a substantially parallel direction to the longitudinal axis X thereof and of the hollow cylindrical structure 2 between the first position and the second position.

The guide projections 8 advantageously lie substantially on a same lie plane, preferably coinciding with a horizontal diameter plane of the hollow cylindrical structure 2. Likewise the guide seatings 9 lie on a same lie plane, preferably coinciding with a horizontal diameter plane of the hollow cylindrical cursor 6. To maintain maximum ergonomic conditions and prevent external portions moving, the guide projections 8 might not emerge from the respective guide seatings 9, but be housed therein, and being flush there-with.

With the aim of enabling the resetting of the shock-absorber device 1, it is provided with elastic movement means 10, operatively interposed between the hollow cylindrical cursor 6 and the shock absorber 5 in order to displace the hollow cylindrical cursor 6 towards the first position (figures 4 and 5) when the respective door is displaced from a closed condition to an open condition.

In detail, the elastic movement means 10 are predisposed to distance the bottom wall 6a of the hollow cylindrical cursor 6 when the weight force exerted by the respective door is removed.

The elastic movement means 10 advantageously comprise at least a helix spring 10a operatively arranged internally of the hollow cylindrical cursor 6. The helix spring 10a exhibits a first end 10b engaging a respective annular seating 6f afforded internally on the bottom wall 6a of the hollow cylindrical cursor 6 and a second end 10c engaging an annular abutment 1 la of a bushing 11 keyed on the shock absorber 5.

The present invention solves the problems encountered in the prior art and attains important advantages.

Firstly the presence of auxiliary guide means of the hollow cylindrical cursor leads to a strengthening of the whole structure of the shock-absorber device, especially when the intercept and guide means of the respective door intercept the guide appendages of the cursor.

In this configuration, the guide means prevent any possible misalignment between the parts of the shock-absorber device, especially when the doors are open, and the device is disengaged from the mobile parts during closing.

Any impacts between the door and the hollow cylindrical cursor therefore occur in precise relative positioning conditions, which prevent generation of snagging with serious and damaging consequences for the device.

In other words, the auxiliary guide means ensure a straight movement of the hollow cylindrical cursor even when the forces exerted by the respective door would be such as to induce an incorrect relative movement of the components of the device.